WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, questioned Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford during a full committee hearing on “U.S. Strategy for Syria and Iraq and its Implications for the Region.”

Congresswoman Sanchez, who also sits on the House Homeland Security Committee, asked tough questions about expanding efforts beyond just military force to counteract ISIL, arming Kurdish forces to effectively fight ISIL, integrating the Iraqi army, and cyber issues regarding ISIL recruitment. Congresswoman Sanchez asked General Dunford how the U.S. is arming the Kurdish forces and if “it [is] really for the battlefield that they find?” Congresswoman Sanchez noted that Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani had told her that Kurdish forces needed heavier duty weapons instead of light arms. Continue reading→

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, today released the following statement after President Obama announced that the negotiators of the P5+1 nations have reached a nuclear agreement with Iran: Continue reading→

WASHINGTON – Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, tonight released the following statement in response to President Obama’s speech to the American people regarding the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to the United States.

“I do not take military action lightly. I am not quick to enter conflict without first considering the tremendous sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform and their families. Continue reading→

Libertarian Party urges lawmakers to get out, stay out of Iraq and SyriaThe Libertarian Party urges lawmakers to stop bombing in Iraq and to disengage operations in both Iraq and Syria.

“The U.S. government has been intervening in the Middle East for more than half a century under the pretext of achieving peace,” said Nicholas Sarwark, chair of the Libertarian National Committee. “But things just keep getting worse. We must stop stoking conflicts that tear countries apart, stop dropping bombs, and stay out of the region.” Continue reading→

In February 2003, the Libertarian Party (LP) issued an article titled “10 reasons why the USA should not attack Iraq.”

The article began by saying, “…there’s only one valid reason for the United States to go to war: Self-defense.”

Geoffrey Neale, LP national chairman, commented, “Unfortunately, the U.S. government ignored that principle, and engaged in ‘preventive war’ against Iraq. Many times since then, the Libertarian Party has criticized that decision.” Continue reading→